Air distribution assembly for an electric baseboard heating system



9, 1966 Q A. M. CASTELLO ETAL 3,265,859

AIR DISTRIBUTION ASS LY FOR AN ELECTRIC BASEBOARD H ING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 24, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l .flniizon M 6 15 U BMW Aug. 9, 1966 A. M. CASTELLO T AIR DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY F0? fil ELECTRIC 9 Filed 24 1965 BASEBOARD HEATING SYSTEM I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Office This application is a continuationin-part of our copending application, Serial Number 171,084, filed February 5,1962 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a baseboard air distribution assembly which is adapted for use in an electric baseboard heating system, and which is particularly advantageous when used with an electric baseboard heating system which optionally or selectively provides both heating and cooling as well as a choice of gravity or forced air heating.

Electric baseboard heating systems are well known and have been in commercial use for many years. Some of these systems operate on a gravity heating principle for the air circulation through the baseboard unit. Others utilize forced air circulation for heating and alternatively the casing of the baseboard unit is used as. an air dif fuser and blender for forced air cooling. Heretofore, however, electric baseboard heating systems have not been provided which are adaptable selectively to forced air heating and cooling as well as gravity heating. It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide an air distribution assembly for use in an electric baseboard heating system that Will permit the system to be used with either forced air or gravity heating and also with forced air cooling.

A more specific object is to provide a baseboard heating system which can be used with either gravity or forced air circulation, and when used with forced air circulation achieves a substantially uniform distribution of the air for either heating or cooling purposes even though the forced air is introduced to the baseboard unit at only one point While it is discharged over the full length of the baseboard unit.

A still further object is to provide a baseboard air distribution assembly which is economical to manufacture, simple to install, and which operates efficiently and quietly. Further objects and advantages will be indicated in the following detailed specification.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of

apparatus constructed according to teachings of the invention, in combination with an air supply and regulatory system shown schematically;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the air distribution assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the FIG. 2 apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of certain apparatus components;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of an air distribution assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, the construction including -34 which rest on the floor 12 (see FIG. 4).

Communicating with the interior bottom of the casing 10 is a spreader chute generally designated 14, which in turn communicates with velocity distributor or plenum box generally designated 1-5. Air is supplied to the box 15 by means of a supply conduit 16 which, as may be seen from reference to FIG. 2 is disposed below the floor 12. The conduit 16 has a substantially smaller cross section than the vertical cross section of the plenum box 15. A blower 17 has its outlet 17a coupled to the supply conduit 16, and air to the fan is drawn through line 18 from a cooling coil 19. The cooling coil 19 in turn is mounted adjacent an entry box 20 equipped with face and by-pass dampers 21 and 22, respectively. The dampers 21 and 22 provides for the introduction of fresh or circulated air, as the case may be, into the box 20 and thence into the blower 17. The by-pa-ss damper 221s mounted in the recirculation duct 23, having its origin in the grill 24, which may be conveniently positioned within the space to be serviced by means of the baseboard distributor 10.

The baseboard distributor 10 is equipped with a nichrome rod electric heater 25, which may be controlled by a thermostatic regulator 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the plenum box 15 is generally rectangular, being defined by side walls 27 and 28, a bottom wall 29, and an upper wall 30 which slopes upwardly and toward the rear wall 31. The front wall 32 is provided with an opening 33 for connection with the conduit 16.

The upper wall 30 is transversely slotted adjacent the rear wall 31, as at 30a, for the receipt of the lower end 14a of chute 14. The boot 14 has a lower, generally rectangular, portion 14a received Within the box 15, an upwardly divergent portion 14b extending between the box 15 and the diffuser ltl, and an upper portion which is again generally rectangular, but elongated relative to the portion 14a. Additionally, the diffuser chute 14 is equipped with horizontally-extending flange portions The air distribution assembly for an electric baseboard heating system as described above provides optional or selective operating modes including forced air heating w th or without forced air cooling, and gravity heating with or without forced air cooling, or any combination of these operating modes, such as operating the system part of the time with gravity heating, part of the time with forced air heating, and part of the time with forced air cooling.

Turning now to a more specific description of the components of the system in their preferred construction and arrangement, it will be noted that the plenum box 15 is of generally rectilinear configuration and that it encloses an air chamber 15a. Chamber 15a receives forced air from conduit 16 through inlet opening 33 and supplies forced air through outlet opening 30a to the open bottom 14g of chute 14. The inlet opening 33 in the front Wall 32 of the plenum box faces rear wall 31. The conduit 16 is aligned with and connected to inlet opening 33 and is oriented to discharge a stream of forced air into a chamber 15a and against rear wall 31. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, outlet opening 30a is in the form of an elongated slot extending along the rearward portion of top wall 30 adjacent the upper end of rear wall 31.

Chute 14 has vertically extending front and rear walls 14a and 14b, upwardly and outwardly inclined end walls 14d and 14e, the open bottom 14g previously mentioned which provides an air inlet, and an open top 1411 that provides an air outlet. The chute air inlet 14g is aligned With and connected to the plenum box outlet opening 30a. The lower end portion of chute 14 (cg. inlet 14g) has a restricted horizontal cross section is compared with Patented August 9, 1966 aeeassa 3 that of the plenum box 15, and the horizontal cross section of the chute 15 enlarges in an upward direction (e.g. from inlet 14g to outlet 14h).

The horizontally elongated casing 10 of the baseboard heating unit includes vertically extending front and rear walls 10a and 100, a top wall 10b and a bottom wall 19d. It will be understood that the casing will also be provided with suitable end walls for completing the enclosure of the heating space ltle. (In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the end walls are identified as 10f and 10g.) Casing 10 also provides the horizontally elongated air outlet 11 for discharging air to the room, and a corresponding horizontally elongated air inlet 1111 at a lower level in the front thereof for receiving air from the room. The casing bottom 10d providesa forced air inlet opening 1011 in the form of an elongated slot corresponding in dimensions with chute outlet 14h. The casing forced air inlet 10h is aligned with and connected to the chute air out let14h. It will be understood that the electric heating element means, such as the rods 25, are disposed in the paths of air flow between the casing room air inlet 11a, and/or the casing forced air inlet 10h, and the casing air outlet, 11.

In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, as shown in the drawings, the plenum box forced air inlet 33 is centrally located in the plenum box front wall '32. The opening 33 preferably has similar vertical and horizontal dimensions, being circular, square, or substantially square, and the plenum box air chamber 28 extends laterally at the forced air inlet opening 33, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3.

In operation, air is delivered by the blower 17 through the conduit 16 to the plenum box 15. Depending upon the condition desired within the space to be conditioned by the air, it may be all fresh air, completely recirculated, or a mixture of the two, suitably cooled or otherwise as desired. The air exits from the plenum box 15 through the boot 14, and is directed upwardly for discharge 7 through outlet 11. The upper portion 14c of the difluser chute extends upwardly within the baseboard distributor 10, and thus tends to aspirate air from within the base board distributor and adjacent the upper portion 14c particularly through the inlet 11a so as to create a uniformly mixed and tempered air volume before the same is discharged from the baseboard diffuser 10. The installation of the chute 14 can be made on either the subfloor or finished floor of a home. If it is to be made on a subfloor, the tabs 34 (see FIG. 4) can be spaced above the subflooring a distance equal to the thickness of the finished floor. This allows the finished flooring to be inserted underneath the ridge 140 of the boot 14 at a later date.

Reference is now made particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing. The air distribution assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6' is similar in basic construction and operation to the one described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. To avoid any unnecessary repetition, corresponding parts of the assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6 have been given the same numbers as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 except that the numbers have been primed. Unless otherwise indicated, it should be understood that these parts have the same function and method of operation as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the casing 10' extends laterally on each side of the chute 14 and the plenum box 15. The air inlet opening 10h in the :bottom of the casing 10' is located intermediately with respect'to the ends of the casing. Only one air inlet opening'is provided for each casing or electric baseboard unit. The casing air inlet opening 10h and the chute air outlet 1411 have similar dimensions, the approximate longitudinal or horizontal dimension being indicated by I the b in FIG. 5. Preferably, the casing 10' has a length from 3 to 6 times the horizontal length of the casing air inlet opening. In FIG. 5, the horizontal length of the rear 10c of the casing. If desired, the concave side 101 and .the casing air outlet 11'. The battle extends for the full length of the casing 10' as indicated in FIGS. It will be understood that suitable supports (not shown) will be provided for the ends of the bafiie 100, such as brackets for attaching the bafiie to the casing end walls 10 and 10g. Intermediate supports or braces may also.

be provided.

Baille provides a concave side 101 facing L and partially enclosing the electric heating means 25, which in this embodiment is shown in the form of a single flat" rod. It will be understood that rod ZS'may be a standard resistance heating element, as heretofore used in baseboard electric heaters, and that suitable electric con: nections will be provided.

Baflle 100 also provides a convex side 102 facing the may be provided for the heat reflecting surface, such as a chrome surface, while the convex side 102 may be coated with a black heat resistant paint so that the surface functions as a re-radiator. i

The baffle 100 is spaced from the front and rear of the casing, shown in FIG. 6, to provide vertical air flow paths between the concave side 101 and the casing front 10a, and another vertical air flow path between the convex side 102 and the rear casing wall 10c. Preferably, the lower edge of the baffle 104) is at the level of the casing room air inlet fila as shown in FIG. 6.- It is also preferred that the upper edge of therbafiie 1% be at the level of the casing air outlet 11', the preferred relation of these elements also being shown in FIG; 6. For best operation, the lower portion of the convex side 192 of the baffle should extend across the casing forced air inlet 10a (or the chute air outlet 14a) so that air discharge into the heating space 102' impinges on the convex side lower portion.

While, in the foregoing specification, a detailed description of the invention has been given for the sake of illustration, many variations in the details herein given may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An air distribution assembly for an electric baseboard heating system which adapts said system for selectively providing forced air heating and cooling as well as gravity heating, comprising in combination:

(a) a plenum box for mounting below the floor of a room to be heated,

said plenum box being of generally rectilinear configuration and having front, rear, top, bottom and end walls enclosing an air chamber for receiving and supplying forced air, said front and rear walls being arranged in opposed generally vertical alignment, said front wall being provided with an inlet opening for said forced air facing said rear wall, :said top wall being provided with an outlet opening for said forced air,

said outlet opening being in the form of an elongated slot extending along the rearward portion of said top wall adjacent the upper end of said rear wall; (b) a conduit for supplying forced air to said plenum box,

said conduit being aligned with and connected to said inlet opening and oriented to discharge a stream of forced air into said chamber and against said rear wall;

(c) a diffuser chute for mounting above said plenum box to extend through the floor of said room,

said chute having vertically-extending front and. rear walls, upwardly and outwardly inclined end walls, an open bottom providing an air inlet, and an open top providing an air outlet, said chute air inlet being aligned with and connected to said plenum box outlet opening, the lower end portion of said chute having a restricted horizontal cross-section as compared with that of said plenum box and the horizontal cross-section of said chute enlarging in an upward direction; and (d) a baseboard heater unit for mounting above the floor of said room at a baseboard level,

said heater unit including a horizontally elongated casing providing a vertically extending air heating space therein, said casing having a horizontally elongated air outlet in the upper portion thereof for discharging air to said room, a corresponding horizontally elongated air inlet at a lower. level in the front thereof for receiving air from said room, and a forced air inlet opening in the bottom thereof, said casing forced air inlet being aligned with and connected to the said chute outlet opening, said heater unit also including horizontally extending electric heating element means disposed in the paths of air flow between said casing room air and forced air inlets and said casing 7 air outlet. 2. The air distribution assembly of claim 1 wherein the said plenum box top wall is inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

3. The air distribution assembly of claim 1 wherein said plenum box forced air inlet opening is centrally located in said plenum box front Wall, said opening having similar vertical and horizontal dimensions, and said plenum box air chamber extending laterally of said forced air inlet opening on each side thereof.

4. The air distribution assembly of claim 3 wherein said plenum box top Wall is inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said casing forced air inlet opening is located intermediately in the bottom of said casing so that said casing extends laterally on each side thereof, said casing air inlet opening and said chute air outlet having similar dimensions, said casing having a horizontal lenght of from 3 to 6 times the horizontal length of said casing air inlet opening.

6. The air distribution assembly of claim 5 wherein said plenum box top Wall is inclined upwardly and rearwardly.

7. The air distribution assembly of claim 1 wherein said plenum box top wall is inclined upwardly and rearwardly, the said plenum box forced air inlet opening is centrally located in said plenum box front wall, said opening and said conduit being circular, said plenum box air chamber extending laterally of said forced air inlet opening on each side thereof, said casing forced air inlet opening being located intermediately in bottom of said casing so that said casing extends laterally on each side thereof.

8. The air distribution assembly of claim 1 wherein said combination also includes an arcuate horizontally elongated baflle disposed within said casing in the said paths of air flow between said casing room air and forced air inlets and said casing air outlet, said bafile providing a concave side facing and partially enclosing said electric heating means and a convex side facing the rear of said casing, said baffle being spaced from the front and rear of said casing to provide a vertical air flow path between said concave side and said casing front and another vertical air flow path between said convex side and the rear of said casing.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the lower edge of baffle is at the level of said casing room air inlet and the upper edge thereof is at the level of said casing air outlet.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein the lower portion of the convex side of said bafile extends across said casing forced air inlet so that air discharged into said heat ing space impinges on said convex side lower portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,459 4/1932 Russell et al -42 X 1,884,408 10/1932 VanVulpen et al. 16555 X 2,663,244 12/1953 MacDowell 98-38 2,830,522 4/1958 Richards 7 8-40 2,839,659 6/1958 Cotts et al'. 219381 X 2,876,690 3/1959 Pierce 16555 X 2,914,648 11/1959 Allander 219--363 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,683 11/1954 Canada.

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner. 

1. AN AIR DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY FOR AN ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATING SYSTEM WHICH ADAPTS SAID SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVELY PROVIDING FORCED AIR HEATING AND COOLING AS WELL AS GRAVITY HEATING, COMPRISING COMBINATION: (A) A PLENUM BOX FOR MOUNTING BELOW THE FLOOR OF A A ROOM TO BE HEATED, SAID PLENUM BOX BEING OF GENERALLY RECTILINEAR CONFIGURATION AND HAVING FRONT, REAR, TOP, BOTTOM AND END WALLS ENCLOSING AN AIR CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING AND SUPPLYING FORCED AIR, SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS BEING ARRANGED IN OPPOSED GENERALLY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, SAID FRONT WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INLET OPENING FOR SAID FORCED AIR FACING SAID REAR WALL, SAID TOP WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET OPENING FOR SAID FORCED AIR, SAID OUTLET OPENING BEING IN THE FORM OF AN ELONGATED SLOT EXTENDING ALONG THE REARWARD PORTION OF SAID TOP WALL ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID REA WALL; (B) A CONDUIT FOR SUPPLYING FORCED AIR TO SAID PLENUM BOX, SAID CONDUIT BEING ALIGNED WITH AND CONNECTED TO SAID INLET OPENING AND ORIENTED TO DISCHARGE A STREAM OF FORCED AIR INTO SAID CHAMBER AND AGAINST SAID REAR WALL; (C) A DIFFUSER CHUTE FOR MOUNTING ABOVE SAID PLANUM BOX TO EXTEND THROUGH THE FLOOR OF SAID ROOM, SAID CHUTE HAVING VERTICALLY-EXTENDED FRONT AND REAR WALLS, UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED END WALLS, AN OPEN BOTTOM PROVIDING AN AIR INLET, AND AN OPEN TOP PROVIDING AN AIR OUTLET, SAID CHUTE AIR INLET BEING ALIGNED WITH AND CONNECTED TO SAID PLENUM BOX OUTLETOPENING, THE LOWER END PORTION OF SAID CHUTE HAVING A RESTRICTED HOROZONTAL CROSS-SECTION AS COMPARED WITH THAT OF SAID PLANUM BOX AND HORIZONTAL CROSS-SECTION OF SAID CHUTE ENLARGING IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION; AND (D) A BASEBOARD HEATER UNIT FOR MOUNTING ABOVE THE FLOOR OF SAID ROOM AT A BASEBOARD LEVEL SAID HEATER UNIT INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL ENLONGATED CASING PROVIDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING AIR HEATING SPACE THEREIN, SAID CASING HAVING A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED AIR OUTLET IN THE UPPER PORTION THEROF FOR DISCHARGINH AIR TO SAID ROOM, A CORRESPONDIG HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED AIR INLET AT A LOWER LEVEL IN THE FRONT THEREOF FOR RECEIVING AIR FROM SAID ROOM, AND A FORCED AIR INLET OPPENING IN THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID CASING FORCED AIR INLET BEING ALIGNED WITH AND CONNECTED TO THE SAID CHUTE OUTLET OPENING, SAID HEATER UNIT ALSO INCLUDING HORIZXONTALLY EXTENDING ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENT MEANS DISPOSED IN THE PATCHS OF AIR FLOW BETWEEN SAID CASING ROOM AIR AND FORCED AIR INLETS AND SAID CASING AIR OUTLET. 